Thousands of dark creatures marched through frozen tundra toward the Crystal Empire. These creatures were a strange mix between insects and ponies, they were the Changelings. The Queen of the Changelings, Chrysalis, knew that the crystal heart at the center of the empire was the source of the love for the crystal ponies, exactly what she needs. The march came to a sudden stop when Chrysalis heard a sudden "Eek" followed by a few thuds.
"What are you idiots doing?" asked the queen, she knew that they're close enough to the empire to be seen. There were five hive members lying on the ground on top of each other. They tripped over each other, but the first one tripped over a strange object. Chrysalis walked over and examined what looked like a red horn. "Well, you've found something very interesting," she said to the Changeling that tripped over it, "but that does not excuse you for wasting my time!" She hit him on the head with the horn, making him dizzy. Chrysalis then handed the horn to a changeling in extra armor and announced, "Now, my children, change into Crystal Ponies and get that heart!" The entire swarm started changing. Chrysalis looked at her beloved children and then changed her form. Green fire quickly enveloped her body and when it faded she was Cadence, the crystal princess.
Shining Armor and Cadence finally got back to their castle. The were in Canterlot to celebrate Shining's sister, Twilight, becoming an alicorn. Cadence decided to take a quick shower to wash up. As, Shining Armor laid on their bed, reading the news, he realized that he was extremely tired, liquid pride always makes him tired, and it was about 10:30 p.m. so it was rather dark out. He shut his eyes and drifted to sleep.
Cadence opened the door and saw her husband asleep. She crept in and went over to the bed. She stroke his mane, which made his eyes open slightly. "Sorry honey, I didn't mean to wake you," she said softly.
Shining Armor yawned. He looked at the clock and noticed that he didn't get much sleeping done. Then he realized something strange, he could still hear the water in the shower. He looked up and felt Cadence's mane, "You're mane's still dry, didn't you take a shower?"
Cadence pushed Shining's hooves against the bed and held them there. Her horn started glowing green and she whispered, "Why don't you go back to sleep?"
Shining tried to get up but suddenly he blacked out.
Meanwhile, in Ponyville
Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash where high up in the sky, testing out Twilight's new wings. "I don't think this is a good idea Rainbow, I still need to read a few more books about flying first," she said as she looked down at the ground. Rainbow Dash wanted to see if she could do a Sonic Rainboom.
"There's nothing to it Twilight, it's just like a hop, skip, and a jump, only down!" encouraged her blue pegasus friend.
Twilight stood up and tried to forget her nerves. I'm acting just like Fluttershy, she thought to herself. She looked down once again and finally took the leap of faith. She fell and fell and fell until SPLAT!
She landed right into Pinkie Pie's giant cake. She moaned and wondered how she didn't see the cake before.
"TWILIGHT! I'VE BEEN SEARCHING ALL OVER FOR YOU!" cheered the usually always enthusiastic Pinkie Pie, "I made this cake to celebrate the super duper fun NEW Twilight! I mean, who wouldn't want to celebrate something this amazing?" (most Bronies wouldn't)
Rainbow Dash zoomed down and hollered, "That was awesome! Not as awesome as me of course but I'm sure that if you practice, you could be almost close to my level of coolness."
Twilight rolled her eyes, but stopped when she saw what was above her. Several Solar Guards flew above them, heading in the direction of the Crystal Empire. She tried to ask them what's going on but none of them seemed to pay attention to her. She figured that there must be something happening, something bad.
Later, Twilight and her friends were waiting at the doors of Celestia's castle. "What do you mean I can't come in? I'm a princess now!" Twilight asked angrily to the guards.
"Sorry," one said, "But Princess Celestia said not to let anypony in, even you, 'Twilight'."
"Come on sugarcube, if the princess wanted to see us she would write a letter," said Twilight's honest friend, Applejack. The rest of her friends seemed to agree.
Inside, Celestia, Luna, and Discord discussed what was going on. "But Sister, Twilight and her friends would be able to help us."
Luna disagreed, "She's still not ready, even with here alicorn powers, she failed against the Changelings before, only Cadence and Shining Armor could stop those creatures.
"But that was before, she reformed you and Discord, overcame plenty of challenges, learned the one thing that Starswirl the Bearded couldn't, and even stopped the return of... it."
"He has a name, use it. And besides, she didn't defeat Sombra, the dragon named Spike did."
Celestia was getting tired of arguing with her sister. She turned to Discord and asked, "You've been unusually quiet, Discord, what do you think?"
"Well I think that you two are so cute together, I didn't want to interrupt you silly little fighting," smirked the mix matched draconquise. Celestia gave a look that said 'That wasn't what I meant'. "I personally agree with both of you. I do think that Twilight should be in on this but I think that Lun Luns right about her not doing much. And might I add that she didn't reform me, Fluttershy did. I also think that both of you are taking this way too seriously."
"You're not helping, Discord," said Celestia.
"I'm doing what I can. Since you have me stuck in this castle all day I can't have my fun."
"You turned my sister's bed into jello," said Luna.
Discord burst out laughing, "That was hilarious! Did you see how high she bounced?"
Both sisters watched as Discord nearly laughed, then coughed, himself to death.
"I still don't see what you saw in him, big sister."
Twilight paced around the library as her worried friends watched. "What if she doesn't trust me anymore? What if becoming an alicorn really was bad? What if she won't teach me anymore because she thinks I'll use her magic to betray her?" She picked up Spike and shouted, "I WOULD NEVER BETRAY HER!"
"Uh... I know," Spike responded, confused.
Twilight dropped Spike and he landed with a thud. "What if she's testing me? What if I'm already failing?!"
"Twi', don't start another sentence with 'What if'. You're just stressing yourself out s'more," said Applejack.
"Yes, darling, you simply must get a grip on yourself. You ever want to be too over dramatic," agreed Rarity.
"Well you're not one to talk, miss 'prim and proper'. Besides, we could just go to the Crystal Empire and see what's up," said Rainbow Dash.
Ahm sure that's a bad idea, RD, the princess probably wants us to stay here until the te comes."
"Or maybe w-we could j-just wait till it's a-all over, then we c-could read about it in t-the n-news?" asked Fluttershy, who knew that whatever's happening, it must be dangerous.
"I guess it must not be too serious," said Twilight, "If it were, we'd be the first to be informed.
Just then, Spike barfed up a scroll from the princess. Twilight takes it and reads it aloud,
"Dear Twilight Sparkle, I must inform you that the changelings have returned and are currently attacking the Crystal Empire. Although you may be capable of handling this threat, it was voted for you to stay here. You and your friends may be needed if things get out of hand. No hard feelings, Princess Celestia."
The six ponies and Spike stood in disbelief. "C'mon y'all, let's give Twilight a moment alone," said Applejack. Before she leaves tells Twilight, "She just doesn't want y'all hurt, it ain't because you not her student any more."
Twilight read the letter over and over again. "It just doesn't make sense. We beat the changelings before... And who voted? And who voted for what? My brother and sister-in-law are in trouble and I'm just supposed to stay here?!" She looks in the mirror and realizes that she's talking to herself, "Great, Twilight, now you're talking to yourself," She stops to facehoof, "I did it again."